Author: Corey Roger Hayes Satellite Television has been and remains one of the top selling subscription television services available in the marketplace. Apartment owners want their residents to have access to the best technology products available and state-of-the-art television service continues to be an extremely important amenity at any apartment community. With the rise of the telephone company's television service (AT&T UVERSE and VERIZON FIOS) to compete against the franchise cable companies, residents are discovering they have more choices for television service providers than ever before – including satellite television. Despite Satellite Television popularity, there are some obstacles for residents to gain access to Satellite services in an apartment community. The challenges for owners and managers begin when residents and satellite installation companies take matters into their own hands.
Poorly Installed Individual Satellites
Often owners and landlords find themselves in a difficult situation with regard to individual satellite installations. The problems arise if the dish is not installed in compliance with FCC OTARD Rules and Regulations * or if a tenant lives in a unit that has no free standing balcony or other outside private (non-common) area that has exposure to the direction of the skies needed to pick up the signal. Smaller contractor satellite installation companies who are hungry for business will install a satellite dish that is unpermitted by the ownership or is installed and wired in a very unattractive and unsightly manner.
Solutions…?
Finding a remedy to the situation can prove to be difficult. This predicament can spiral into a worse scenario if many residents have ordered satellite service and their satellites were installed in a similar manner. The owner and manager have only a few options. One solution is to legally and forcibly remove all satellites that have been installed that aren't in a tenant's private balcony or other non-public/common area. This could cause resentment and could jeopardize resident retention, along with causing major headaches and complaints directed toward the onsite or general management. The best and most viable solution is to provide a central satellite system at the property. This will give residents access to popular satellite programming and services and maintain the attractive aesthetics of the property.
Central Satellite System Providers / Contracts
Finding a company or satellite dealer that focuses on MDU (Multiple Dwelling Use) properties in the area or region is the first step needed to be taken by an owner or manager. MDU satellite providers and dealers focus on central satellite systems in apartments, condominiums, hotels, student housing and townhomes. A central satellite system can be installed on a building or series of buildings to provide satellite distribution to every unit through the property's existing coaxial cable wiring. This allows owners to prevent residents from installing individual dishes and also gives management leverage in removing existing, unsightly individual dishes around the property.
An owner should solicit two to three proposals from qualified local and regional MDU satellite companies. Every satellite company's business model and contractual obligations they will be asking for may vary. Owners and managers should first review all current contractual cable, broadband, and telecom agreements prior to the proposal process. The MDU market is now a hotbed and huge focus for the satellite industry. Many owners and landlords have attempted to get these central systems installed in the past, only to be told that unless they entered into a bulk or exclusive provider agreement (locking out all competition) that they would have to pay for the upfront system installation costs. Unless there are major wiring issues or non-accessible power to certain equipment locations needed for these central systems – an MDU satellite company should be able to bring in these central satellite systems at NO UPFRONT COSTS to the owner. The satellite company may ask for some type of "exclusive satellite" agreement. This would not prevent or lock out the current cable or telephone provider who has television service in the property. It would only prevent outside satellite companies from executing another contract with the property and would also prevent outside companies from installing individual dishes. Some providers may even ask for "marketing rights" in their proposal and contract and in return they would provide some type of financial incentive to the property (revenue share, activation or door fees).
In summary, there has never been a better time to bring in this central satellite technology into an apartment community. Owners should immediately begin reaching out to local and regional MDU satellite companies to take advantage of this unique time in the satellite industry.
*FCC OTARD Rules allow tenants who have free standing balconies or other private (non-common) areas in their units to mount satellites. For more information on this see FCC OTARD Rules or contact Corey R. Hayes at the contact information cited in this article.
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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/get-a-central-satellite-dish-system-for-your-apartment-or-condominium-community-for-free-4213907.html
About the Author Corey Roger Hayes is a 14 year industry veteran of the satellite, cable and broadband industry. Working in business development and project management roles for two publicly traded award winning companies since 2003 – Mr. Hayes has brokered and sold millions of dollars worth of satellite, cable and broadband right of entry agreements into MDU properties nationally during his tenure. His new consulting firm, Future Multihousing, LLC (www.futuremultihousing.com), has successfully represented multi-family and MDU properties across the United States in auditing and renegotiating cable, broadband, satellite and telecom contracts. Mr. Hayes' consultation and advisory services have also been retained by over 7 Wall Street and Investment Firms since 2006. Mr. Hayes holds degrees from McNeese State University and Northern Illinois University. He can be reached at 877 534 8201 or emailed at info@futuremultihousing.com.
